Direct examination of Christian Reichardt by Daniel Petrocelli (2 of 2)

📄 Direct examination of Christian Reichardt by Daniel Petrocelli (2 of 2) — Monday, March 25, 1996

Address:

C:\DEPT103\DEPOSITION\1996\MAR\25\DIRECT-EXAMINATION-OF-CHRISTIA.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 22 of 31

◀ Direct examination of Christian Reichardt by Erin Kenney Direct examination of Allen Cowlings by John Kelly ▶

Witness: Christian Reichardt
Examiner: Daniel Petrocelli
Called by: Plaintiff • Date: Monday, March 25, 1996 • Utterances: 351

Petrocelli redirects on Christian Reichardt, pressing him on his loyalty to O.J. Simpson, his objections to Faye Resnick's book, and what he knew about the June 12 conversation notes. Reichardt admits OJ called him from jail, that he spoke to Johnnie Cochran about his notes, and that Faye was sometimes so impaired she fabricated events — but insists none of those fabrications concerned OJ.

# 1

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 2 Q:

You were born where, Mr. Reichardt?

# 3 A:

In Germany.

# 4 Q:

In what year?

# 5 A:

'59.

# 6 Q:

When did you come to the United States?

# 7 A:

In '78.

# 8 Q:

So from 1959 to 1978 you lived in Germany?

# 9 A:

That's correct.

# 10 Q:

Did you ever spend anytime with Paula Barbieri, let's say, after your birthday party on April 30, 1994 until Nicole's death?

# 11 A:

No.

# 12 Q:

You never saw her?

# 13 A:

No.

Q You never spoke to her?

# 14 A:

No.

# 15 Q:

It is a fair statement, is it not, that you had asked O.J. Simpson to make referrals to you of celebrities and athletes?

# 16 A:

No.

# 17 Q:

This is before Nicole's death.

# 18 A:

No.

# 19 Q:

That is not a fair statement?

# 20 A:

That is not a fair statement.

# 21 Q:

That is not true?

# 22 A:

That's not true.

# 23 Q:

Did O.J. Simpson tell you that he had once used cocaine?

# 24 A:

Years ago.

# 25 Q:

What did he say to you?

# 26 A:

That years, in years past, the days when he was playing ball that he had used it sometimes.

# 27 Q:

And you seem to really emphasize how long ago that was. Why is that?

# 28 MR. LEONARD:

Objection. Argumentative.

# 29 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

Because I remember

# 30

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 31 Q:

You don't have any interest, it could be yesterday for all you care?

# 32 A:

No. Because we

# 33 Q:

You are not trying to protect him, are you?

# 34 A:

No.

# 35 MR. LEONARD:

Objection. Argumentative.

# 36 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

I remember we talked about how athletes get injured.

# 37

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 38 Q:

And he told you that he had used cocaine; true?

# 39 A:

Yes.

# 40 Q:

And he told you that he had used pills also; correct?

# 41 A:

Yes.

# 42 Q:

And he told you that he had been addicted to drugs at one point in his life; right?

# 43 A:

No.

# 44 Q:

He never told you that?

# 45 A:

No.

# 46 Q:

When was the last time, to your knowledge, that he used cocaine?

# 47 MR. LEONARD:

Objection. Lack of foundation.

# 48 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

As far as I knew it from that conversation, it was in the days when he was playing ball.

# 49

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 50 Q:

And who else was present during that conversation?

# 51 A:

I think it was him and I in a treatment room. Nobody else.

# 52 Q:

When did he tell you that?

# 53 A:

One of the visits that he came to my office.

# 54 Q:

In 1994?

# 55 A:

Or '93. '94. One of the visits that he came.

# 56 Q:

You said they started in late 1993 so

# 57 A:

Right.

# 58 Q:

this conversation occurred in late 1993 or into '94; right?

# 59 A:

Correct.

# 60 Q:

You saw a draft of Faye Resnick's book before it was published? I am talking about Private Diary. Right?

# 61 A:

No.

# 62 Q:

You never saw it before

# 63 A:

No.

# 64 Q:

Did she discuss it with you?

# 65 A:

She discussed it In the days before the release of the book, she gave me a copy of the book.

# 66 Q:

That's what I mean, before the release of the book.

# 67 A:

But it wasn't a draft.

# 68 Q:

Okay. It wasn't a draft.

# 69 A:

It was a finished print

# 70 Q:

But you read it before it was released; right?

# 71 A:

Yes.

# 72 Q:

And you told her not to release it; right?

# 73 A:

No.

# 74 Q:

You told her that you had objections to it; right?

# 75 A:

I told her that there are a number of things in there that I know not to be the truth.

KEY QUOTE

# 76 Q:

And you told her to take them out; right?

# 77 A:

No.

# 78 Q:

Isn't it true that you told her that there were things that she was saying about O.J. Simpson that were untrue?

# 79 A:

I told her that there were things in the whole book that are not true.

# 80 Q:

Specifically about O.J. Simpson that portrayed him in a bad light; right?

# 81 A:

No. No.

# 82 Q:

What were the things that you told her were untrue?

# 83 A:

The way she was portraying the particularly the two incidents at the sushi bar and

# 84 Q:

And Toscana?

# 85 A:

And Toscana.

# 86 Q:

And in both of those portrayals you thought her portrayal of O.J. Simpson was false; right?

# 87 A:

Right. Not just of O.J. Simpson but the whole group. She described the whole group acting in a certain way that was not correct.

# 88 Q:

But the gist of her portrayals of O.J. Simpson was that he went into a rage; right?

# 89 A:

Right.

# 90 Q:

And you thought that was false; right?

# 91 A:

Right.

# 92 Q:

And you thought that O.J. Simpson did not go into a rage; right?

# 93 A:

Correct.

# 94 Q:

What else was untrue?

# 95 A:

I don't know any specifics right now. I do not remember any specifics right now, but the whole gist of the book was very strange. There were incidents, for example, where she describes the second Cabo trip and forgets that I was in there, that I was at the trip, things like that.

# 96 Q:

You cannot recall any other specifics?

# 97 A:

No.

# 98 Q:

Didn't you tell Ms. Resnick that you also have a story to tell about abused men?

# 99 A:

No.

# 100 Q:

And about how you were abused by her and Nicole was abused by O.J. Simpson?

# 101 A:

No.

# 102 Q:

You never said that?

# 103 A:

No.

# 104 A:

Didn't O.J. Simpson call you from jail several times and leave you messages?

# 105 A:

Yes, probably.

# 106 Q:

And wasn't he asking you in those messages to help clear his name and find out information for him.'

# 107 A:

No.

# 108 Q:

Wasn't he asking you to set the record straight as far as Faye Resnick was concerned?

# 109 A:

No.

# 110 Q:

And to go public and refute Faye's story?

# 111 A:

He had asked me on one occasion that if I found something wrong in Faye's first book, whether I would comment.

# 112 Q:

You mean to say that if you find something wrong rather than you know something's wrong?

# 113 A:

Right.

# 114 Q:

Why would he say "if" if you and he knew for a fact that Faye's statements were untrue?

# 115 MR. LEONARD:

Objection. Argumentative.

# 116 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

I think that it is not a matter of him convincing me what I have to do, it is just...

# 117

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 118 Q:

Didn't he say to you to go convince people that her book is a pack of lies?

# 119 A:

No.

# 120 Q:

Do you know who Arthur Barrons is?

# 121 A:

I sure do.

# 122 Q:

Who is he?

# 123 A:

He is Faye's attorney.

# 124 Q:

Did you ever have any conversations with him about a book deal?

# 125 A:

No.

# 126 Q:

Did you ever have any conversations at all with him?

# 127 A:

Yes.

# 128 Q:

About what?

# 129 A:

About a personal injury case that I treated Faye for.

# 130 Q:

When was that?

# 131 A:

I think it was in '93, '92.

# 132 Q:

But you never spoke to him about a suggestion concerning you and Faye Resnick co-authoring the book?

# 133 A:

Absolutely not.

# 134 Q:

Did you ever hear that Faye Resnick had met with the stars Tony Frost?

# 135 A:

I found that out later, yes.

# 136 Q:

And when you found out, did you get upset?

# 137 A:

Right.

# 138 Q:

Was Ms. Resnick present when you were upset?

# 139 A:

I believe so, yes.

# 140 Q:

And did you pound holes in the wall and throw perfume bottles at her?

# 141 A:

No.

# 142 Q:

Did you do anything violent at all?

# 143 A:

No.

# 144 Q:

Why were you upset?

# 145 A:

I was upset because in the days after when Faye was still at the rehab center we had agreed to stay out of the media because we both knew that this was going to be a media crazy thing, and the first opportunity she had, I believe, was a few days after she came out of the day care at Exodus, as I found out later. She told me that she had gone to have coffee with a friend at 10 o'clock at night, and, then Kris Jenner a couple of days later told me that she had actually met with someone from the Star instead of this friend.

# 146 Q:

And that upset you?

# 147 A:

Yes.

# 148 Q:

You did not want her going to the media; right?

# 149 A:

Right.

# 150 Q:

You were concerned about her own protection and safety; right?

# 151 A:

Also.

# 152 Q:

In addition to what?

# 153 A:

Not getting herself involved with something that is not her place to get involved with.

Q Didn't you also tell her not to go to the prosecution?

# 154 A:

No.

# 155 Q:

Didn't you tell her to stay away from the prosecutors?

# 156 A:

No. The only discussion we had was about the media.

# 157 Q:

And you didn't go to the prosecutors either, did you?

# 158 A:

A week-and-a-half after the murders the prosecutors came to see me.

# 159 Q:

But before they came to see you, you didn't go see them, right?

# 160 A:

This was like two days after the murders the detectives called me up and we scheduled an appointment for a week-and-a-half after.

# 161 Q:

Two days? On what day did they call you?

# 162 A:

A few days. A couple of days after the murder. I remember between the two detectives and I we were trying to figure out a mutual convenient time.

# 163 Q:

Did you ever discuss the account of the conversation with O.J. Simpson on June 12 that appears in your notes, that account with anyone else prior to today and prior to Friday, of course?

# 164 A:

I think I mentioned it to Bill Pavelick. I believe I talked to Johnnie Cochran about it.

Q And before you wrote that account of the conversation down in your notes, or thereabouts during that period of time, did you call O.J. Simpson to go over it with him?

# 165 A:

No.

# 166 Q:

Did you ask him what his recollection was?

# 167 A:

No.

# 168 Q:

Have you ever asked him what his recollection of that conversation was?

# 169 A:

No.

# 170 Q:

His lawyer Johnnie Cochran told you what Mr. Simpson's recollection was; right?

# 171 MR. LEONARD:

Objection.

# 172 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

Right.

# 173

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 174 Q:

He discussed that with you, didn't he?

# 175 A:

No.

# 176 Q:

Mr. Pavelick did; right?

# 177 A:

No.

# 178 Q:

So you are saying that to this day you do not know what Mr. Simpson's recollection of that conversation was?

# 179 A:

That's correct.

# 180 Q:

You do not know what his account of it was?

# 181 A:

No.

# 182 Q:

Not even in general terms?

# 183 A:

No.

# 184 Q:

And you do not know if it is completely inconsistent with or totally consistent with yours?

# 185 A:

I have no idea.

# 186 Q:

Is it just a coincidence that both you and he give almost verbatim accounts word by word of that conversation?

KEY QUOTE

# 187 A:

I have no

# 188 MR. LEONARD:

Objection. Argumentative.

# 189 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

I have no idea. I don't know whether it is a coincidence or not.

# 190

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 191 Q:

Now, you said Mr. Simpson called the house after the Cabo trip in April of '94 numerous times to speak to Faye; correct?

# 192 (Witness nods head.)

# 193 Q:

You have to answer audibly.

# 194 A:

I'm sorry. My thought was wandering for a moment.

# 195 Q:

After the Cabo trip Mr. Simpson called the house numerous times to speak to Faye about Nicole; correct?

# 196 A:

Right.

# 197 Q:

And he would call even in the wee hours of the morning from time to time; right?

# 198 A:

I think I would if I talked to him, it was usually after the office at night.

# 199 Q:

He sometimes called 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning and you would answer the phone and hand it to Faye; true?

# 200 A:

Not that I recall.

# 201 Q:

Not once?

# 202 A:

I don't recall that at all.

# 203 Q:

You recall that it did not occur or you just do not recall?

# 204 MR. LEONARD:

Objection. Argumentative.

# 205 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

I don't recall that it ever occurred. I don't answer the phone after 10:00. I go to sleep.

BY MR. PETROCELLI: Q: So if Faye got phone calls at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning you would not know; right?

# 206 A:

Right.

# 207 Q:

You would have no way of refuting her testimony on that; right?

# 208 A:

Right.

# 209 Q:

Do you have a collection of ceramic frogs?

# 210 A:

Right.

# 211 Q:

Is it true that Nicole would not go near that?

# 212 A:

I have no idea.

# 213 Q:

Did she know about your ceramic frog collection?

# 214 A:

I don't know. They are in my bathroom.

# 215 MR. RUBALCAVA:

You have frogs?

# 216 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

Yes.

# 217 MR. RUBALCAVA:

You never told me that.

# 218 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

They are in my bathroom, so I assume if she went to the bathroom downstairs she must have been near them.

# 219

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 220 Q:

Do you recall an incident in Cabo San Lucas in April of 1994 when you were driving with Mr. Simpson in a van together with Bruce Jenner, Nicole, Christian, Faye, and the children, the van was cut off by another car and Mr. Simpson said, "Can you imagine if we had just been killed by that car, they would think we were in a van like a bunch of Mexicans crammed in here. And, Bruce, who do you think would get top billing, you or me?" Do you recall that?

# 221 A:

No. Do they really say these things. Sorry.

KEY QUOTE

# 222 Q:

Did you almost get into a fight with Christopher Darden when you were interviewed by him?

# 223 A:

I don't think a fight, but he was not very polite.

# 224 Q:

Did you have an argument with him not on the record that was not being recorded by the stenographer?

# 225 A:

Yes. Yes. I think I asked him to change his tone of voice, please.

# 226 Q:

And what did he say to you that offended you?

# 227 A:

It was not what he was saying, it was how he was saying it and how he was trying to just his voice inflections.

# 228 Q:

What bothered you about his voice inflections?

# 229 A:

He was very aggressive.

# 230 Q:

And so you were offended by that?

# 231 A:

Yes.

# 232 Q:

Was there an implication in your mind that you were not telling him everything that you knew?

# 233 A:

No.

# 234 MR. LEONARD:

Objection.

# 235

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 236 Q:

You were not being truthful to him.

# 237 A:

No.

# 238 MR. LEONARD:

Objection. Calls for speculation.

# 239

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 240 Q:

And that you were trying to help your good buddy O.J. Simpson?

# 241 MR. LEONARD:

Objection. Argumentative.

# 242 (Witness shakes head.)

# 243 (Discussion was held between the witness and his counsel out of the hearing of the reporter.)

# 244

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 245 Q:

Are you aware of any argument between Nicole and Faye in the last month or so of Nicole's life?

# 246 A:

No.

# 247 Q:

Didn't you overhear an argument between Nicole and Faye when Nicole called Faye about the fact that she was planning to attend the Sports Spectacular event on July 4

# 248 A:

I wasn't

# 249 Q:

even though she had split up with O.J. Simpson?

# 250 A:

I was not present at that conversation, but I know they they were talking about that. I don't know whether they had an argument, but I know that they didn't that Nicole didn't want us to go with O.J. to the Sports Spectacular.

# 251 Q:

Did Faye tell you that she had had an argument with Nicole about this?

# 252 A:

Faye told me that she talked to Nicole about it.

# 253 Q:

And that Nicole was very unhappy; right?

# 254 A:

Yes. But I don't know whether it was an argument. I wasn't present at the conversation.

# 255 A:

Wasn't it reported to you that Nicole said that O.J. Simpson was trying to buy her friends?

# 256 MR. LEONARD:

Objection.

# 257 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

Faye said that that had been an issue for Nicole, yes.

# 258

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 259 Q:

Including your taking $5,000 from O.J. Simpson; right?

# 260 A:

No. That was something that Faye started bringing up later after the murders.

# 261 Q:

What was the reference to buying the friends that came up at the time?

# 262 MR. LEONARD:

Objection.

# 263 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

Which time?

# 264 MR. PETROCELLI:

Before the murders.

# 265 MR. LEONARD:

Lack of foundation, calls for speculation.

# 266 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

That was when Nicole talked to Faye, as far as I understand it, where they were going Faye was talking to Nicole that we were going with O.J. to the Sports Spectacular and Nicole was unhappy that we did or that we wanted to.

# 267

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 268 Q:

Isn't it true that after the conversation between Faye and O.J. Simpson about this event, this Sports Spectacular event, that Mr. Simpson called you and asked you what was going on, and you told him that Faye and Nicole had just had a heated conversation; is that true?

# 269 A:

I don't recall that.

# 270 Q:

And then Faye came on the phone and told Mr. Simpson that Nicole was upset because she thought that he was taking her friends away from her?

# 271 A:

I know that O.J. and Faye had that one conversation about that, but I don't know whether Faye and Nicole I don't recall whether they had the conversation.

# 272 Q:

And you do not remember having that conversation with O.J. Simpson?

# 273 A:

No. No, I don't recall that. I have talked about so many things in that time.

# 274 Q:

Did you ever attend a dinner with O.J. Simpson, Nicole, and Faye Resnick where pills were taken away from Faye?

# 275 A:

Yes.

# 276 Q:

When was that?

# 277 A:

That was, I think probably 10 days or so before the Cabo trip.

# 278 Q:

And describe the pills that were taken.

# 279 MR. LEONARD:

Can we just know which Cabo trip.

# 280 MR. PETROCELLI:

The first Cabo trip.

# 281 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

The first Cabo trip.

# 282

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 283 Q:

And what pills were taken away?

# 284 A:

I believe they were pain medications for that Faye was taking for her surgery.

# 285 Q:

Just days before; right?

# 286 A:

Right. Or

# 287 Q:

You took those pills away from her?

# 288 A:

Right.

# 289 Q:

Now, you previously have testified from time to time that Faye Resnick was high at certain points in time. Describe to us how you could tell.

# 290 A:

I would come home and there are 15 or 20 cigarettes burning in different ashtrays all over the house, drawers are emptied out on the floor. I would find her half unconscious in the bathtub almost drowning with her mouth hanging in the water. I would find her unconscious in front of the bed. Other times I would find her just running around very upset, frantic in the house.

# 291 Q:

It was very obvious?

# 292 A:

It was very obvious. Not pretty.

# 293 Q:

Not able to conduct herself normally; right?

# 294 A:

Right. Yes.

# 295 Q:

Not able to carry on normal conversations; right?

# 296 A:

Not normal conversations. Conversations rather frantic . She carried on those at times. You know, it varied. It depends, I guess, on what types of things she was doing or taking at the time.

# 297 Q:

Was she able to conduct herself nonetheless even though she was high?

# 298 A:

At times, yes; at times, no. Like I said, depending on, I assume, what she was taking. There were times when she was

# 299 Q:

You had never seen her take these things, so you are just going on what she looked like; right?

# 300 A:

What she was conducting herself like. Sometimes she would be just sluggish and other days she was frantic and other days she was unconscious so...

# 301 Q:

When she was high this way, did she make things up that didn't happen?

# 302 A:

Oh, absolutely.

# 303 Q:

And tell me everything you can remember that she fabricated when she was high?

# 304 A:

Supposedly I was having different affairs, constantly. I was taking money away from her. I was not giving her her freedom. I was not buying her a car. I was not getting married to her. I was not liking her friends. I was not like you name it, every day it was something different.

KEY QUOTE

# 305 Q:

Can you remember anything else that she fabricated which she was high?

# 306 A:

No. I think that pretty much wraps it up.

# 307 Q:

Did she ever fabricate anything about O.J. Simpson when she was high?

# 308 A:

I don't know.

# 309 Q:

As you sit here now can you think of anything that she fabricated about O.J. Simpson

# 310 MR. LEONARD:

Objection. Lack of

# 311

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 312 Q:

while high?

# 313 MR. LEONARD:

foundation

# 314 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

I don't know whether she was high when she wrote the book. I know she was under the influence at those dinners.

# 315

BY MR. PETROCELLI:

# 316 Q:

I am saying something that you know for a fact that she made up invented, it didn't happen, when she was high?

# 317 A:

Not that I know of, no.

# 318 MR.PETROCELLI:

Okay. I don't have anything further.

# 319 MR. LEONARD:

No questions.

# 320 MR. PETROCELLI:

I didn't think so.

# 321 MR. RUBALCAVA:

You are done. Does that mean no dinner?

# 322 MR. PETROCELLI:

No dinner.

# 323 MR. RUBALCAVA:

Thank you for lunch, then.

# 324 MR. PETROCELLI:

By the way, before we go off the record, though, Ms. Reporter, I would like you to let him put those notes in the right order. So if you could remove the staple. This is Exhibit 172. I would like you to put those notes in the right order.

# 325 MR.RUBALCAVA:

And if Mr. Reichardt mails you a copy of that bank statement that you requested, will you make that available to all the other attorneys so he does not have to send one to all of them.

# 326 MR.PETROCELLI:

Sure. No problem.

# 327 MR. RUBALCAVA:

I think that is the only thing that you still want is that correct? is that bank statement?

# 328 MR. PETROCELLI:

Apparently.

# 329 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

I think that is the only thing that we talked about.

# 330 MR. PETROCELLI:

That sounds right.

# 331 MR. RUBALCAVA:

Okay. We will get that to you as soon as possible.

# 332 MR. PETROCELLI:

While he is looking through those notes, what we will do is put on the same stipulation that we have been using for the other witnesses, which is that the witness can sign this under penalty of perjury; the court reporter is relieved of her statutory duties under the Code; the original transcript will go to you; the witness will have 30 days from your receipt in which to review and sign it, and if necessary, make any changes, though the witness is admonished that those changes, if he does make any, could have an adverse effect on his credibility.

# 333 MR. RUBALCAVA:

Would or could?

# 334 MR. PETROCELLI:

Could. You will return the transcript to me within 30 days. If we do not get a transcription to you within 30 days, then a copy may be used in lieu of the original in the form transcribed. Is that acceptable?

# 335 CHRISTIAN REICHARDT:

Should I number these for you? That is how the sequence should be.

# 336 MR. PETROCELLI:

You know what, why don't you number them. For the record, this is Exhibit No. 172 starting with your handwritten notes. Why don't you put numbers at the top.

# 337 (Witness complies.)

# 338 MR. PETROCELLI:

And also before we go off the record, may I have a stipulation from you, Mr. Rubalcava, that the originals of these materials will be preserved, they will not be tampered with, destroyed, or discarded

# 339 MR. RUBALCAVA:

Changed or modified.

# 340 MR. PETROCELLI:

And they will not be changed or modified, and they will be made available to us at the time of trial?

# 341 MR. RUBALCAVA:

Yes. When we get close to trial I don't know what your date is for trial and I don't know when

# 342 MR.PETROCELLI:

September 9 is our trial date.

# 343 MR.RUBALCAVA:

We may have some conflict. I don't know how long your trial is going to go and I have no idea

# 344 MR. BREWER:

I think it is more than two weeks.

# 345 MR. PETROCELLI:

Given Mr. Reichardt's deposition testimony, we will very likely want him as a witness, so we will let you know.

# 346 MR. RUBALCAVA:

Okay.

# 347 MR. PETROCELLI:

Okay.

# 348 MR. RUBALCAVA:

Because there will be some schedule conflicts potentially, and we want to make sure we know what they are early on.

# 349 MR. PETROCELLI:

Thank you.

# 350 MR.BREWER:

Stipulate as to the transcript.

# 351 (ENDING TIME: 3:28 P.M.)

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (5)

Christian Reichardt

I would find her half unconscious in the bathtub almost drowning with her mouth hanging in the water. I would find her unconscious in front of the bed.

Vivid, damaging account of Faye Resnick's drug use while living with Reichardt — directly undermines her credibility as a witness about what she observed in the Simpson household.

Christian Reichardt

I told her that there are a number of things in there that I know not to be the truth.

Admits he told Faye Resnick her book contained falsehoods — specifically her portrayals of OJ at the sushi bar and Toscana incidents — showing he was actively defending Simpson's image.

Christian Reichardt

Do they really say these things. Sorry.

Spontaneous reaction when Petrocelli read aloud a racist remark allegedly made by OJ Simpson in the van in Cabo San Lucas — Reichardt neither confirms nor denies it but the response is revealing.

Christian Reichardt

Supposedly I was having different affairs, constantly. I was taking money away from her. I was not giving her her freedom... like you name it, every day it was something different.

Reichardt catalogs what Faye fabricated about him when high — then is unable to name a single fabrication she made about OJ Simpson, undermining his framing of her as an unreliable witness specifically about OJ.

Daniel Petrocelli

Is it just a coincidence that both you and he give almost verbatim accounts word by word of that conversation?

Key impeachment moment — Petrocelli implies Reichardt coordinated his account of the June 12 conversation with Simpson or his lawyers, despite Reichardt's denial.

Evidence (3)

Exhibit 172

Reichardt's handwritten notes about the June 12, 1994 conversation with OJ Simpson — reordered and numbered on the record at close of deposition

preserved, stipulated not to be destroyed or modified, flagged as likely trial exhibit

Informal

Faye Resnick's book 'Nicole Brown Simpson: The Private Diary of a Life Interrupted' — pre-release copy given to Reichardt

discussed; Reichardt admits reading it before publication and objecting to portrayals of OJ at sushi bar and Toscana

Informal

Bank statement requested by Petrocelli from Reichardt — related to $5,000 payment from OJ Simpson

stipulated to be mailed to Petrocelli and shared with all counsel

Notable Exchanges (5)

Daniel Petrocelli•Christian Reichardt

Petrocelli presses Reichardt on whether Johnnie Cochran told him OJ's recollection of the June 12 conversation, and whether it is coincidence that both gave nearly verbatim accounts. Reichardt admits talking to Cochran but denies Cochran shared OJ's version.

strategic

Daniel Petrocelli•Christian Reichardt

Petrocelli asks whether Reichardt can name a single thing Faye fabricated about OJ Simpson while high. After cataloging her fabrications about him personally, Reichardt cannot name one about OJ — a notable asymmetry that Petrocelli lets stand.

revealing

Daniel Petrocelli•Christian Reichardt

Petrocelli reads aloud a racist remark allegedly made by OJ Simpson in a van in Cabo San Lucas about being 'crammed in like a bunch of Mexicans.' Reichardt does not confirm it but reacts with 'Do they really say these things. Sorry.'

surprising

Daniel Petrocelli•Christian Reichardt

Petrocelli confronts Reichardt with the allegation that he pounded holes in the wall and threw perfume bottles at Faye Resnick when he learned she met with a Star reporter. Reichardt denies all violence but confirms he was angry.

tense

Christian Reichardt•Dominick W. Rubalcava

Mid-deposition, Rubalcava interjects to ask Reichardt about his ceramic frog collection — apparently news to him — generating a brief comedic sidebar.

light

Light Moments (3)

Dominick W. Rubalcava

Rubalcava interrupts examination to express surprise that Reichardt has a ceramic frog collection: 'You have frogs? You never told me that.'

Dominick W. Rubalcava

After Petrocelli closes, Rubalcava asks: 'You are done. Does that mean no dinner?' Petrocelli: 'No dinner.' Rubalcava: 'Thank you for lunch, then.'

Christian Reichardt

Reichardt's spontaneous aside reacting to the alleged racist van remark: 'Do they really say these things. Sorry.'

Credibility Attacks (4)

⚔ Christian Reichardt

bias / coordination with defense

Petrocelli establishes that Reichardt spoke to Johnnie Cochran about his June 12 notes, received calls from OJ in jail, and that his account matches OJ's almost verbatim — implying coordination despite Reichardt's denials.

⚔ Christian Reichardt

prior inconsistent conduct

Petrocelli shows Reichardt told Faye Resnick her book was false specifically in its portrayal of OJ going into a rage — suggesting Reichardt was acting as Simpson's advocate, not an objective witness.

⚔ Faye Resnick

witness unreliability / drug impairment

Reichardt catalogs Resnick's severe drug impairment and tendency to fabricate events — Petrocelli then turns this to show Reichardt cannot name a single fabrication she made about OJ specifically, limiting the impeachment's usefulness.

⚔ Christian Reichardt

omission / failure to cooperate with prosecution

Petrocelli establishes Reichardt never voluntarily contacted prosecutors, advised Faye to stay out of the media (but denies telling her to avoid prosecutors), and was upset at her media contact — painting him as someone who managed the narrative.

Witness Demeanor

(Witness nods head.) — then catches himself and apologizes: 'I'm sorry. My thought was wandering for a moment.'

(Witness shakes head.) — in response to suggestion he was helping O.J. Simpson

(Discussion was held between the witness and his counsel out of the hearing of the reporter.)

(Witness complies.) — numbering and reordering Exhibit 172 notes at Petrocelli's direction

Objections

12 objections (0 sustained, 0 overruled)

Proceeding 9019 • 351 utterances • Plaintiff witness

Deposition Trial

Department 103